Think Canada is Expensive? These Are the 20 Most Expensive Cities to Live In

Posted by Doug Murray on May 7, 2018

Are you depressed about how expensive it is to live in your hometown? Take heart: it could be worse. Canadian cities tend to be much cheaper to live in than many other world cities. Take a look at these expensive world cities to call home and, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, you just might find yourself saying, “There’s no place like home.”

All prices in Canadian dollars.

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Singapore

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living Report for 2018, Singapore is the world’s most expensive city to live in. Monthly expenses without rent for a single person are about $1,600 but rents are high. The city-state is also one of the world’s richest countries.

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Hamilton, Bermuda

You might think living in the Caribbean isn’t too expensive but in Hamilton, Bermuda, monthly expenses for a single person, excluding rent, come to about $2,200. Expatistan regards the Bermudan capital as the world’s most expensive city right now. At least Bermuda is a Zika-free destination.

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Paris, France

Paris is one of the top cities for fashion lovers but it’s not just all those designer clothes that make it expensive. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s list, Paris is pricey overall. A single person will need around $1,350 for monthly expenses and you can expect to pay over $3,000 a month for an apartment in a regular neighbourhood.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is not only in second place on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s list but is also the world’s second most expensive city according to Numbeo. Expect to spend at least $3,000 a month on an apartment and $2,000 on other monthly expenses.

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Basel, Switzerland

Numbeo ranks Basel third among the world’s most expensive cities and a furnished 85-square-meter apartment can cost around $2,600 a month. For a single person, monthly expenses excluding rent can be around $2,000.

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Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva is another Swiss city that makes it into the top 10 of most rankings of the world’s priciest cities. Monthly rent on a furnished apartment can be around $3,900 and you’ll need around $1,900 for other monthly expenses. The silver lining is that Switzerland is one of the best countries to live and work abroad.

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Hong Kong

The Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Hong Kong as the world’s fourth most expensive city to live in. You’ll need about $1,200 for your monthly expenses excluding rent, but an 85-square-meter apartment can cost $4,800 a month.

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Oslo, Norway

Expatistan lists Oslo as the ninth most expensive city, while the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks the Norwegian capital in fifth place. An apartment here can set you back around $2,500 a month while your other monthly expenses can be about $1,700. However, Oslo is also one of the world’s greenest cities.

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Seoul, South Korea

The Economist Intelligence Unit places Seoul sixth on their list of the world’s most expensive cities, in a tie with Geneva. An apartment can cost you around $1,600 and other monthly expenses for a single person are roughly $1,400.

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Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik may be one of the cheapest places to travel from Canada but it’s also one of the most expensive cities to live in. Expatistan ranks it second. An apartment is around $3,000 a month and you’ll need around $1,800 for your other monthly expenses.

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New York, New York

Numbeo lists New York as the most expensive city in the United States. At around $3,600 per month for an apartment in a regular neighbourhood, housing prices here are among the highest in the world. Your other monthly expenses will be at least $1,600.

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Copenhagen, Denmark

The Economist Intelligence Unit ranks the Danish capital as the world’s eighth most expensive city. Without rent, monthly expenses for a single person are around $1,400 while an apartment will set you back around $2,600. However, Copenhagen is one of the world’s healthiest cities, so living there does have its perks.

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San Francisco, California

Expatistan says that San Francisco is the fourth most expensive city in the world. You’ll need around $1,500 for your monthly expenses and another $5,000 or so for rent. From the right spot, you'll get to look at one of the world’s most breathtaking bridges (the Golden Gate Bridge) every day, though.

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Nassau, Bahamas

Numbeo lists Nassau as one of its top 20 most expensive cities to live in. An apartment costs around $1,600 a month and other monthly expenses for a single person amount to around $1,500.

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Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv is one of the world’s top cities for young people but, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, it’s also the ninth most expensive. You’ll need around $1,250 per month to get by and an additional $2,350 for rent.

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Sydney, Australia

Sydney is the most expensive city in Australia and, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the tenth most expensive in the world. Monthly expenses for a single person here are around $1,250 plus another $2,650 for rent.

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Honolulu, Hawaii

Numbeo says Honolulu is the third most expensive city in the United States. With monthly expenses of around $1,500 plus roughly $2,750 for renting an apartment, it’s cheaper to just come for a visit.

London, United Kingdom

According to Expatistan, London is the seventh most expensive city. With rent for an apartment in a regular neighbourhood coming to around $3,000 and other monthly expenses amounting to about $1,400, it’s no wonder London is one of the cities with the most billionaires.

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Washington, D.C.

The capital of the United States is the world’s 12th most expensive city, according to Expatistan. You’ll need at least $3,000 for monthly rent on an apartment in a regular neighbourhood and an additional $1,500 or so for your other monthly expenses.

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Dublin, Ireland

Expatistan lists Dublin as the world’s 16th most expensive city. To live in the Irish capital, you’ll need around $2,650 for rent and $1,300 for other monthly expenses.